RESCUING  THE  MEMORY  OF  OUR  PEOPLE

Case study  presented  in  Rome  ( 29 Sept – 06 October 2002)

 CHRISTIAN ARCHIVES DEVELOPMENT IN MADAGASCAR

Thanks

I would like to send you greetings from the FJKM church in Madagascar and from the Archives-Library Committee. Warm thanks to the Conference for having given us this opportunity to tell you about Christian archives in Madagascar, namely the FJKM archives.

 Introduction

Madagascar is the second biggest  island in the world.

Here are some  statistical facts:

·        area :                      226.657 square miles

·        population:           about 15 million inhabitants

·        life expectancy:       45 years

·        language:                Malagasy, spoken all over the country, is the official language                                                     alongside French

·        literacy:                   60%

·        religions:                 53% are Christian, 45% traditional and 2% Muslim

·        per capita income: $300

1-Christian churches in Madagascar

In Madagascar there are over 150 Christian denominations. Dr Barrett  in  the World Christian Encyclopaedia   divides them into two main groups –

The older churches or  historical churches were established by missionaries mostly in the 19th century. It comprises  four well-entrenched denominations:

-          Catholic (EKAR) Church

-          Lutheran (FLM) Church

-          Anglican (EEM) Church

-          Reformed (FJKM). Church

·        The young churches, which come later such as:

-          the Evangelical mission church in Madagascar (METM)

-          the Biblical Baptist church ( FBBM)

-          the Christian church witnesses (FKPMV)

-          the Antranozozoro Malagasy church (FMTA)

-          Soatanana revival church (FFSM)

-          the Biblical Baptist church ( FBBM) etc.

2-Christian church archives

(from World Christian Encyclopedia, by Dr Barrett: (updated)

A glance at this table shows that  only some of the oldest churches have their archives organised.

To know more about Christian archives development in Madagascar, let us have a look at the   archives of the  FJKM:

The development of FJKM church archives:

The FJKM is the unification of  three  protestant missions established in Madagascar during the 19^th century. In the course of the missionaries’ work, we can say archives were quite well kept: copies of documents were sent abroad to the mission’s mother Church.

From the unification  of FJKM in 1968  until 1984, keeping archives was left in the hands of  the administrative personnel . Un prepared for this task  and overworked ,  staff did not pay much attention to them. After having  been moved  twice (because of local problems) the archives were in bad condition, a collection of  redundant  paperwork.

Knowing the importance that archives  hold, it was in 1984 that FJKM decided to take care of them . A full-time manager was appointed, and  the current building given to house the archives, located in Faravohitra, formerly an LMS College and the third place to which records, documents and books have been moved.

What were  the stages involved in bringing the archives up to standard ?

The manager who was appointed had to deal with:

·         a paper mountain of unsorted archives

·        insufficient personnel: only the manager was appointed to this task; and she was still untrained in doing the work.

·        lack of materials and furniture for the work, and the bad condition of the building ( dusty, humid, unsound roof).

·        insufficiency of the budget.

Many steps have been  taken  before arriving at the current  position.

-          first step ( 1984-1995)

·        training on the job, inside and outside the country, for the manager

·        shelving books and boxing documents ( inadequate shelves and personnel)

·        making contact with other churches which already have archives centres:

-      second step ( 1995-1998)

Help came  from churches , embassies and non-governmental organisations. We now could:

·        pay 6 archivists for 3 months to sort out  and classify documents and arrange them into metal cupboards. They still need accessioning and indexing;

·        renew the interior of the  building  to meet the conditions necessary for Archives  ( repairing ceiling, walls and roof );

·        install  burglar alarm, smoke detector,  fire extinguisher;

·        buy computers and furniture ( 40 metal cupboards, shelves, tables, chairs);

·        visit churches within the FJKM’s 35 regional synods to train church leaders, students at theological colleges, in keeping archives. The absence of a follow-up programme prevents our knowing the results.

-          third step (1998 till now)

-           

It is  difficult to maintain  the status quo. Administration  and archival work  need  an annual  budget that we cannot afford.

We cannot currently sustain :

·        the necessary archival work such as indexing, finding aids etc, which  are very urgent to help  researchers. About 600 linear metres are waiting to be done and in addition to 8 m³ to be sorted out.

·        visits to the other regions and  training;

·        the rehabilitation of the outside of the current building.

Activities  currently undertaken  by the Archives Library:

· Keeping and preserving the archives;

· Opening to the public. Visitor number are increasing ( 20 in 1998,  and an average of  400 in 2001);

· Long-term educational programmes with various age groups;

· Assisting local congregations in their many jubilee celebrations;

· Visits and training of representatives from:

·        local congregations within the 35 regional synods,

·        students at theological colleges.

Documents held:

The FJKM archives and library undertakes the conservation and preservation of precious historical collections relating to the XIX century and the beginning of the XX, particularly the history of Malagasy Protestantism ( records , documents, photos  relating to missionary work).

Almost all are documents, books, manuscripts belonging to the three original Protestant missions:

·        LMS (London Missionary Society arrived in 1818),

·        FFMA (Friends’ Foreign Mission Association – Quakers arrived in 1867)

·        PMS (Protestant Mission Society arrived in 1896).

You can find there:

·        The first Malagasy printed Bible   LMS: 1835

·        The Malagasy-English dictionary   Jones - Freeman: 1835

·        The first Malagasy periodical called « Teny Soa » LMS: 1866

·        Manuscript original letters from Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony to the secretaries of the LMS : 1867 - 1890

·        LMS and MPF microfiches relating to missionary work in Madagascar: 1818-1940

·        Old scenic photos of Tananarive, Tamatave at the end of the XIX century

·        All of them were written in Malagasy, English or French. Some of them are in bad condition and need to be restored or copied.

How does the archives committee work?

·        Every year, FJKM Archives Centre dedicates November as “the month of archives ”. Activities are organised, such as visits to local congregations to explain about archives; exhibitions and conferences, and  parishes around Antananarivo are asked to contribute to the archives budget. 

·        Establishment of the “Friends Archives Association”, named Satrana;

·        Contact with embassies and  different organisations.

·        Fund raising  activities

-          ….

Even so, the money collected is not enough to run the work.  Every year there are recurrent  financial problems which make work difficult.

At the moment, the committee is thinking how to become financially  self-supporting.

It is not only financial problems which remain to be solved but also how to rescue and collect the records still spread over the country in remote churches, documents belonging to the XIX & XX centuries which are very precious for church history. It is urgent  to save them because in our country  we have yearly floods  and cyclones and in addition, because of the high rate of illiteracy, people do not know their importance.

Conclusion:

The FJKM Archives Centre everywhere demonstrates how difficult it is to run  archives in an undeveloped country. Christian Malagasy church leaders  are aware of the  importance of archives, as are the congregations themselves. During recent years, congregations have started to find out the history of their parish and come to visit the archives centre for  jubilee celebrations or simply to update  their knowledge of  church history.

Malagasy Christian church history is quite recent ( around two centuries old) so it is not too late to start rescuing  oral and written church memories.

In view of the annual cyclones and floods I think it is  urgent to find ways  to save records, documents still spread over the country.

I think that it is not only a Malagasy Christian church problem but a world  Christian church problem.  Malagasy Christian churches cannot themselves afford this task because of  economic and  social difficulties. Working together seems a  good way forward. We hope to learn more about it from this conference.

Our warm thanks again to the Conference organiser and to the  assistants.

Be the glory to God.